Improvement in tuckers for sewing-machines



l. H. BEAN.

Tuckkers for Sewing-Machines.

930,152,543. Patented]une30,1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT @Ferca JOSEPH H. BEAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN TUCKERS FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification fprming part of Letters Patent No. 152,543, dated J une 30, 1874 application filed June 8, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrn H. BEAN, of the city of Cincinnati, county of Hamilton and State of Ohio7 have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Tuckers for Sewing- Machines, ot' which the t'ollowing is a specification:

My invention consists, first, in the em-h ployment of an adjusable gage-plate of such a peculiar configuration that during the operation of tucking it lies beneath the cloth, and its bent arm overlaps the last tuck made, and, coming into contact with the seam of said tuck, guides the cloth by the line of said seam. The cloth is thus easily guided, and great accuracy in the folding of it is secured. The length of the guiding end of this bent arm facilitates the folding. My invention consists, secondly, in the employment of amain or base plate, whereby the gage, supplemental, and folding plates can be adjusted longitudinally and retained in position. The forward end of this base-plate serves as a guide for the fold of the cloth. Thirdly, in the employment of a supplemental plate in connection with the gage and hase plates, whereby a tuck may be made narrower in width than the distance between the needle and the edge ofthe presserfoot. Fourthly, in the combination of a common form of folding plate with the base and gage-plates, with or without the supplemental plate. To obtain a tucker which should fold the cloth for the tuck and also make the upper stitch to show on the finished side of the work has been a desideratum thus far not obtained. The fourth part of my invention produces such a tucker.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in perspective my improved tncker. Fig. 2 represents a vertical longitudinal section ot the same, taken at the dotted line :v w of Fig. 1, and showing a section of a piece of cloth having previously received one tuck and placed in the tucker in position for receiving the second tuck. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the adjustable gage plate, Fig. 4, a plan of the folding-plate; Fig. 5, a plan of the supplemental plate for aiding in making a very narrow tuck, and Fig. 6 a plan of the baseplate.

A represents the main or base plate of the tucker, provided with a longitudinal slot, a, by means of which it is adapted to be secured to the table by the ordinary holding-screw. It is also provided with a longitudinal groove, d, for the recept-ion of the gage, supplemental, and folding plates. That part, e, of that end of the main plate which is in front of the slot and at one side of the groove is of sufficient height to perform the office of a guide for the fold of the tuck. From the bottom of this groove a threaded stud, f, projects upward for securing, through the agency of' a thumbnut, g, the gage, supplemental, and folding plates at their appropriate position. B represents the gage-plate, adapted to hold the cloth, to guide the same by the line of the seam, and show the upper stitch on the finished side of the work. It consists,first, of a straight piece or shank, h, containing a longitudinal slot, i, for the reception of the threaded stud g; and, secondly, of a bent portion, j, which is bent up from and hack over the plate, and, returning a short distance parallel with said plate, terminates in a tongue or tuckseam-guidin g bar, 7c. The piece or shank 7L is preferably graduated in the ordinary manner by a scale, for enabling the operator to easily obtain the right width ot' tuck. C represents the supplemental plate of such width as to iit within the groove, and containing a short slot, l, for the reception ofthe threaded stud g. D represents the folding-plate, provided with a longitudinal slot, m, t'or the reception of the threaded stud g, and also at the rear end an upwardly-inchning projection, u, which affords a hold-fast, wherebyit can be moved.

The operation and functions of the tuckcr are as follows, viz: Should it be desired to make quarter-inch tucks, draw the plate B to the left until the line indicated by Fig. 3 ot' the scale marked on shank-piece h. is in line with the fold-guide e of plate A, the folding.- plate I) and the supplemental plate C being to the right ofthe line ofthe fold-guide c. Nowscrew down set-screw g, thereby setting the gage, supplemental, and folding plates in their aforementioned position. Place the main plate so that the holding-screw shall pass through the slot a of the main plate into the cloth-plate of the table. Now slide the main plate along until the line indicated by figure 2 of the scale is in line with the needle, and fasten the main plate to the machine by the holdiug'screw. Take the lcloth in which a tuck has been previously made and place the tuck under the bent arm j of the plate B, with the seam of the tuck resting against the edge ol the tuckguide 7;. Fold theclothto be tucked to the left over the bent arm, filling' the space between the tuck-guide k andthe fold-guide e. Now let down the presser-foot, loosen set-screw g, slide the folding-plate D over the cloth to be tucked, retighten set-screw g, and sew down `he newly-folded tuck, at the same time, with Y the left hand, drawing` the seam ot' the last tuck against the edge of the tuck-guide, while, with the right hand, the space between the tuck-guide L' on the let't and fold-guide e on the right is easily kept full of cloth. This secures perfect accuracy in making` tucks. Wider or narrower tucks are made by moving the tuck and fold guides nearer to or farther from the needle. ln ease it is desired to make a tuck narrower than the distance between the needle and the edge of the presser-foot, the supplemental plate C is moved forward so that its front edge projects beyond the foldguide e as much as is required to make the tuck narrower than the distance between the needle and the edge of the presser-foot. rlhe plates A, B, and D are arranged in the same manner as in making wider tucks. To make the first tuck in the cloth, adjust the folding guide e or supplemental plate C in the manner aforesaid, according as it is desired to make a tuck wider or narrower than the distance between the needle and the edge ofthe pressurefoot; then place the fold of the tuck to be made against the fold-guide or edge oi the plate C, as the case may require, then move the folding-plate over the'eloth and sew down the tuck.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The gage-plate B, adapted to lie beneath the cloth during` the operation of tuclring, and having` the bent arm j adapted to overlap a tuck previously made, and to come into contact with the seam of said tuck, and to guide the material by the line of said seam.

2. rJihe combination of the gage-plate B and main plate A, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The eoi'nbination of the gage-plate B, supplen'iental plate C, and main plate A, as and for the purposes. set forth.

4. The tucker described, consisting of the plates A B G D, constructed and arranged substantial!)v as and for the purposes set forth.

JOSEPH H. BEAN.

In presence of D. 0. KENNEDY, R. S. FULTON, 

